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Welding the Steel floor for 750mc Locost
andrews_45 - 9/4/06 at 05:36 PM

Right then, I have bought some 2mm thick steel sheet that I plan to use for the floor of my chassis.

I am concerned about it warping if I completely weld it in. I was going to 'Stitch weld' 1 inch every 5 inches all around, wherever I can get in. I am sure that this will be more than secure, but will scrutineering allow this? or does it need to be fully welded?

Ta


Peteff - 9/4/06 at 06:16 PM

2mm sounds a bit hefty, it shouldn't warp much. Are you welding it from the outside as well as the inside. I don't know about the race regs but seam welding the floor sounds a bit extreme.


Surrey Dave - 9/4/06 at 07:52 PM

2mm sounds mega I think I used 16 gauge what ever that is in metric, certainly not 2mm.

I welded mine all the way round as I figured it would be waterproof (which it is!), but it did cause some distortion in the area just in front of the seats, but nothing major.................

[Edited on 10/4/06 by Surrey Dave]


MikeR - 9/4/06 at 09:48 PM

I've used 1.2mm (16 gauge is 1.6mm)

fully welded the outside, stitch welded the inside. Can't remember the sequence i used but i've managed to get it to bow outwards


Chippy - 9/4/06 at 11:06 PM

I used sixteen gauge, button welded mine every two inches. went from side to side, and front to back doing only one button at a time, distortion minimal. Then stitch welded the inside,using the same principal, and b**ls, now have a nice doinger. Oh well I tried.


procomp - 10/4/06 at 07:11 AM

Hi 2mm is to heavey for the race championship 16g - 1.6mm is all that is requierd. dont bother welding it as you will have the same problem as all the mk - luego - st cars the bottom rails rot out after a number of years . Best bet is to rivvet it on with pu sealent as this is recomended by the club to avoid this problem as you will definatly be racing in the wet and possibly even snow some times.

there is atleast one manufacturer and a number of drivers that do it this way.

Oh and use sealed rivvets.

cheers matt

ps rivvet every inch as race car floors are in for a hard life

[Edited on 10/4/06 by procomp]


MikeR - 10/4/06 at 06:29 PM

at least one car manufacture .......

wonder who that could be ?

(if i'm wrong Matt, sorry for making the assumption)


procomp - 11/4/06 at 07:38 AM

Hi your not wrong. Plus it also means that when you get fed up of using a 1300 xflow and need more power you can pull of the steel use as a template and then replace with ali. As the only race championship to use steel floor is locost.

cheers matt


D Beddows - 11/4/06 at 10:02 AM

That'll be to make it cheaper obviously